The Relay
December 10, 2025 • EPISODE 290
How does a simple relay help us understand electricity and circuits? In this episode of Science LIVE, Roger Billings breaks down the science behind the relay—the clever electromagnetic switch that makes it possible to control circuits with precision. Learn how relays work, why they’re essential in everyday electronics, and how this simple idea became a building block for modern technology. A clear, hands-on look at one of engineering’s most important tools.
About DrB
Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology.
As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »
That is amazing that WD 40 is still a thing and is in stores.
I like how I learn something I’ve never thought I’d ever learn every single science live!
Think about when these inventions first came out, to the every day person it was like real magic for them. Thank you for explaining the magic!
R51!!!
I learned a lot from this experiment
R-51!
hi from North Carolina
I wonder what happens if you try to use the DNA cassette like a normal cassette?
Wow! What a vast amount of information in today’s Science Live. I really learned a lot from the experiments.
The detail in these lectures makes it alot easier for me to understand.
Great project and it is good to see R-51
Thank you for the video.
I love rockets because they fly and are very useful for flying to space. It’s so cool they made WD 40 because of them!
I want to try this one.
This is so interesting!
Thank you for showing me this!
I love science live!!!
That’s cool!!
This is so dope! I love Mr. Billings!!!
It is cool how radio waves can make things work!
Love science live!!
This week was amazing. I learned the reason behind the usage of WD-40
Electricity is amazing! I love watching the experiments.
Hello from NC!! I really liked learning about this experiment and caj’t wait for what you have to show us next week!!
radio waves are definitely one of the more interesting topics I’ve seen I love how they work
I use WD-40 on a lot of stuff round the house and it works great!
I Learned that DNA can be used as a space to store information.
From Oregon,
How do you convert the computer data to the DNA letters? How do you rehydrate the data?
Science sure is full of wonders!
I love this experiment
i loved this video
The is very mind blowing
Why tap the side of the glass?
I had no idea WD40 had SO MANY uses!
Hi Dr b!
Wow, I didn’t know vacuum tubes used such an intricate process!
How did you make the spoon trick
I didn’t know that Wd-40 could get stickers up
that was a cool episode
I enjoyed learning about WD40. I had no idea such a simple product came from such a complex background. It has so many diverse applications.
This is very interesting. Thank you for teaching me.
It was cool to see the spoons connect together like that! I really like science live and R-51.
Is the person that invented wd 40 still alive ?
hello from ny
thank you for teaching me !!!!!!!
It is incredible that they got the idea for WD-40 from a rocket!
I love science live!!
Hi from Indiana!
this was cool
So that is what is in our cells.
Very interesting!
I enjoyed watching the experiment.
Hi!
Awesome
very fun!
I love fishing can I get to fish with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is impressive how far Radio’s have advanced through out time.
I find it very cool that just as we store data in our phone, our DNA saves over data in cells.
I wanna try that!
what happend to R51???
he became a conductor
Watching this experiment is very interesting! I love Science experiments!
That was cool
Wow it is so cool!
hey from ms
hello from S.C
My dad used to work in construction and he always had a can of WD 40! I love the fact that I get to tell him how it was originated!
I love that pyramid light!
This is so cool!!
I love this lesson!
hi from new york
hi
i loved todays episode!! cant wait for next weeks!
This is so cool and interesting!
Where is r51?
This seems fun
Nice experiment! Thank you!
I just realized that’s how school bells work
I remember when we used WD-40 on our small remote monster truck tires. Works every time! 😀
Waiting for R. 51
It was cool learning about WD40. I thought it was only used on household objects
The relay is very interesting.
I’m concerned what might happen if R-51 actually does find the experiment just sitting there- 😅
This is so cool! Thank you Dr. Billings!
That’s really cool! I am excited for that to come into the Acellus Store. Could we also get a Build your own radio kit? That and THIS would be really cool! Like an Acellus Collectors Items.
Learning about radio waves today was interesting.
I love these lives!! Can’t wait for next week!
I really enjoy the talked with Mr. Roger Billings, about the invention of the ring bell, and with his invention with the 2 spoons.
My grandpa uses WD-40 all the time!
My parents use WD40 on everything. From doors making noise to bikes.
How do you make different frequencies with radio waves?
The Area 51 stuff for this live is so cool! Especially the one with spoons and the triangle with many colors
Fun experiments today! I love going to Area 51 for real science, no offense to R-51 haha.
Viewing from Nevada!!
I liked learning about WD40!
r51 is awesome and funny
I like the experiment and want to try it.
i like dr roger billings and all he teaches me
That is impressive
so neat
Is it safe to do that project at home?
hey from TX
I wasn’t expecting R-51 to get electricuted. XD
leave the bell on in case r-51 arrives! XD
you are so lucky to have your comment mentioned in the vid! Congrats!
this was really interesting how this works
How long did it take to make that light switch experiment ?
It’s so interesting how WD-40 can get stuck Lego bricks apart!
Thanks, for the science Live!
I love learning these new things very interesting
Are there ways students could try to re-create these experiments safely?
Hello from Mississippi.
The waves are like the ones in microwaves.
I love this live!
I love R51
I love relays!
Super cool!
This is all very interesting. I am enjoying the radio adventure.
Is this the same mechanism for alarm clocks?
very cool experiments!!
Relays are great
Hi I’m Keegan, could you use a smaller light that does not use as many watts with a bigger battery with the spoon relay, so it does not delay as much?
I am so thankful for the acellus app. It makes it so much easier to access my acellus from my compuuter.
Very interesting!
Whoever came up with this experiment in the first place is super smart.
How did you learn how to make that?
Hi here from Texas
I remember when my uncle taught me about relay switchs
Wow such a cool experiment!
Dr Billing how many types of science have you studied in.
Imagine if someone powered a car using spoons and named the brand Cereal. XD
Science live is always interesting
It’s a bell 🔔 cool
Watching from CT. We are one hour ahead of you guys!
That is cool!
who first came up with this experiment and what gave them the idea?
The DNA storage was cool
So how would we use DNA for storage?
Hello Dr. Roger Billings, did Guglielmo Marconi also have a mentor that unlocked his full potential?
woow
I am here
science live is the best!!!!
Amazing video! Science is one of my favorite subjects, so I love these videos.
Hi awesome!!!
Hi
The relays are so cool! Sending much love from Maryland!!!
I have heard of WD-40 but i didn’t know it took 40 tries to make and NASA was a part of it. Thanks Acellus.
This is interesting
I loved this one!! From Kentucky
Thank you for sharing this is very cool!
This is a cool experiment
This was so cool!
Hi from NC
This is so cool
Hello from texas
How can we make a spoon relay at home?
I wonder if we can detect other signals?
This is extremely cool!
School is cool
Nice
what’s up guys, I’ve been sick with a sinus infection all day, but still was able to enjoy the live!
Hello from Thailand! The relay thing with the spoons and foam is so cool, big inventions like radios really go through many lare processes before they are successful, I never really new how radios worked until Science Live!
Enjoyed this stuff
Is it magnetic energy that pulls the spoons together?
I like practical teaching like this one.
Good evening.
Today’s Area 51 was very special. You explained the experiment with so many details and I am glad you introduced Marconi.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Relays remind me of dominos!
so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love science live so much
Relays are cool!
i love how entertaning this is
Woahh that is so cool! Its insane how vital electricity is nowadays yet there is still so much in that field to explore.
how does the bell work?
This is cool!
I love this live!!!!!! R-51 should have his own lesson!!!!
This live is very interesting!
hi
What happens if you push more power to it?
Hello from Texas! Having a lot of fun learning.
This is so excited!
very cool!
just popped in what are the spoons for?
How many things use a relay?
We need more of area 51.